Cuban leaders vow to defend sovereignty and demand Maduro’s release

Tensions between the United States and Cuba have escalated after President Donald Trump warned on January 11 that Cuba would receive no more Venezuelan oil or financial support unless it reached a deal with the U.S. Trump claimed that Cuba had long relied on subsidized oil from Venezuela in exchange for providing security services, a claim rejected by Cuban leaders. In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel defended the country’s sovereignty, stating that the United States has no moral authority to criticize Cuba and attributing the island’s economic hardships to decades of U.S. sanctions. He emphasized that Cuba does not threaten other nations but is prepared to defend itself. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also demanded that the U.S. end what he called the illegal detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling on the international community to uphold international law and protect their rights. The situation underscores growing tensions between Washington and Havana over oil supplies, national sovereignty, and U.S. actions in Venezuela.

Credit : CGTN